Carlos Alcaraz explains why he admires ‘God-like’ Novak Djokovic as he looks to regain No 1 ranking

Shahida Jacobs 15 Feb 2023 8:10 AM

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz joking

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz speak

Novak Djokovic “has no weaknesses” and just about everything he does is “amazing”, according to Carlos Alcaraz.

Djokovic has been in imperious form so far in 2023 as he is yet to lose a match as he won the Adelaide International and followed it up by winning a 10th Australian Open title.

He dropped only one set en route to lifting the trophy at the season-opening major at Melbourne Park and his latest success helped him to draw level with Rafael Nadal on 22 Grand Slams – the record in men’s tennis – while he also returned to No 1 in the ATP Rankings on the back of the win.

Djokovic, of course, has been one of the most dominant players on the ATP Tour for the past decade as he has won 17 of his Grand Slams since the start of the 2013 season, while Nadal won 11 with Roger Federer winning just three.

The Serbian has also spent a record 376 weeks at No 1 on the ATP Rankings over the course of his career with the bulk of that coming in the last 10 years.

It is no surprise then that Alcaraz is struggling to find any chinks in the 35-year-old’s armour.

“He has no weaknesses. Every shot, it’s amazing,” the Spaniard told the official ATP website. “His physical condition is amazing; his mental condition is amazing. He’s like a God, and I admire him over the years staying at the same level, staying at the top. It’s really, really difficult, and I admire that.”

Alcaraz became youngest ATP No 1 in September last year on the back of winning the US Open and he spent 20 weeks at the top before Djokovic bumped him off at the end of January.

After missing the Australian Open, Alcaraz will return to action at the Argentina Open this week and he has his eyes set on returning to No 1, although he is unable to return to top spot this week even if he does win the ATP 250 event.

“It has been a long time (I spent) at No 1. Now it’s a goal for me to recover No 1 and try to do my best in these tournaments to be back on that number. I’m looking for that,” the 19-year-old said.

Alcaraz will open his 2023 campaign against Serbian Laslo Djere on Wednesday in Buenos Aires and it will be a welcome return following several months on the sidelines.

“I’m really excited to play here in Buenos Aires. I had four months with no competition, with no matches, just training and recovering my injury,” the teenager, who also missed the ATP Finals in November due to an abdominal injury, said.

“I’m so excited to play again, to be in the competition again. I’m looking forward to doing it.”